Drainable Vase Assembly

ABSTRACT

A drainable vase assembly for draining a vase without inversion thereof includes a vessel, which has a top that is open. Stems of stemmed plants and water can be inserted into the vessel via the top. The vessel has a hole positioned therein proximate to a bottom thereof. The water can drain from the vessel via a pipe, which is engaged to the vessel and extends bilaterally from the hole. A valve is positioned in the pipe. An actuator is operationally engaged to the valve and is positioned externally to the pipe and the vessel. The actuator is positioned to selectively actuate the valve to drain the water from the vessel.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to vase assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new vase assembly for draining a vase without inversion thereof. The present invention discloses a vase assembly comprising a vessel having a pipe engaged thereto proximate to a bottom thereof, wherein the pipe extends downwardly toward the bottom of the vessel, and wherein the pipe has a valve positioned therein.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to vase assemblies. Prior art vase assemblies may comprise dual chambered vases, with each dual chambered vase having two pipes extending from a bottom thereof. Each pipe has a spigot engaged thereto distal from the dual chambered vase. Prior art vase assemblies also may comprise vessels having dispensers positioned near bottoms thereof, planters having spigots positioned near bottoms thereof, vases having selectively pluggable pipes engaged thereto proximate to bottoms thereof, and bases having pluggable drain holes in bottoms thereof. What is lacking in the prior art is a vase assembly comprising a vessel having a pipe engaged thereto proximate to a bottom thereof, wherein the pipe extends downwardly toward the bottom of the vessel, and wherein the pipe has a valve positioned therein. The pipe allows for more complete drainage of the vessel relative to prior art vase assemblies.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a vessel, which has a top that is open. The vessel is configured for insertion of stems of stemmed plants and of water thereinto. The vessel has a hole positioned therein proximate to a bottom thereof. A pipe is engaged to the vessel and extends bilaterally from the hole. The pipe is configured to drain water from the vessel. A valve is positioned in the pipe. An actuator is operationally engaged to the valve and is positioned externally to the pipe and the vessel. The actuator is positioned to selectively actuate the valve to drain the water from the vessel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a drainable vase assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new vase assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the drainable vase assembly 10 generally comprises a vessel 12, which has a top 14 that is open. The vessel 12 is configured for insertion of stems of stemmed plants, such as flowers, cuttings, and the like, and of water thereinto. The vessel 12 has a hole 16 positioned therein proximate to a bottom 18 thereof. The present invention anticipates the vessel 12 to be of a variety of shapes, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, as well as of a variety of materials.

A pipe 20 is engaged to the vessel 12 and extends bilaterally from the hole 16. The pipe 20 is configured to drain water from the vessel 12. The pipe 20 comprises a first section 22, a second section 24, and a third section 26. The first section 22 is positioned externally to the vessel 12 and extends therefrom, such that the first section 22 is substantially parallel to the bottom 18. The second section 24 extends into the vessel 12, such that the second section 24 is substantially parallel to the bottom 18. The second section 24 may be selectively threadedly couplable to the first section 22, as shown in FIG. 4. The present invention also anticipates the pipe 20 being integral to the vessel 12. The third section 26 extends substantially perpendicularly from the second section 24 distal from the first section 22 and toward the bottom 18. The pipe 20 thus is configured to siphon water positioned in the vessel 12 below a lower limit 28 of the second section 24.

A grommet 30 is engaged to the vessel 12 and is positioned in the hole 16. The grommet 30 is positioned to sealably engage the pipe 20 to the vessel 12, thus preventing leakage of the water. The grommet 30 comprises rubber, silicone, or elastomer.

A valve 32 is positioned in the pipe 20. The valve 32 may be positioned is the first section 22 of the pipe 20, as shown in FIG. 4, although the present invention anticipates the valve 32 being positioned in the second section 24 or the third section 26.

An actuator 34 is operationally engaged to the valve 32 and is positioned externally to the pipe 20 and the vessel 12. The actuator 34 is positioned to selectively actuate the valve 32 to drain the water from the vessel 12. The actuator 34 comprises a handle 36, as shown in FIG. 1, a button 38, as shown in FIG. 6, a lever (not shown), or the like. The button 38 is depressible. The handle 36, the button 38, and the lever are configured to be turned, depressed, and levered, respectively, to actuate the valve 32.

In use, the water and the stems of the stemmed plants, such as flowers, are inserted into the vessel 12 through the top 14. When the water requires changing, a user simply turns the handle 36 to actuate the valve 32 so that the water drains through the pipe 20. Fresh water then can be added to the vessel 12. With the second section 24 of the pipe 20 extending toward the bottom 18, water can be siphoned from the vessel 12 to near the bottom 18. Additionally, the vessel 12 can be tilted, as shown in FIG. 5, to further aid drainage of the water. Changing out the water from the vessel 12 is easy and devoid of mess and difficulty as the vessel 12 need not be inverted to drain the water therefrom.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A drainable vase assembly comprising: a vessel having a top, the top being open such that the vessel is configured for insertion of stems of stemmed plants and of water thereinto, the vessel having a hole positioned therein proximate to a bottom thereof, the vessel being continuous between the open top and the bottom but for the hole; a pipe engaged to the vessel and extending bilaterally from the hole, wherein the pipe is configured for draining water from the vessel, wherein the pipe comprises a first section positioned externally to the vessel and extending therefrom such that the first section is substantially parallel to the bottom, a second section extending into the vessel such that the second section is substantially parallel to the bottom, and a third section extending substantially perpendicularly from the second section distal from the first section and toward the bottom, a free end of the third section being open, spaced above, and parallel to the bottom, wherein the pipe is configured for siphoning of the water positioned in the vessel below a lower limit of the second section; a valve positioned in the pipe; and an actuator operationally engaged to the valve and being positioned externally to the pipe and the vessel, such that the actuator is positioned for selectively actuating the valve for draining of the water from the vessel.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The drainable vase assembly of claim 1, wherein the second section is selectively threadedly couplable to the first section.
 4. The drainable vase assembly of claim 1, further including a grommet engaged to the vessel and positioned in the hole, such that the grommet is positioned for sealably engaging the pipe to the vessel.
 5. The drainable vase assembly of claim 4, wherein the grommet comprises rubber, silicone, or elastomer.
 6. The drainable vase assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve is positioned in the first section of the pipe.
 7. The drainable vase assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a handle, a button, or a lever, the button being depressible, wherein the handle, the button, and the lever are configured for turning, depressing, and levering, respectively, for actuating the valve.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A drainable vase assembly comprising: a vessel having a top, the top being open such that the vessel is configured for insertion of stems of stemmed plants and of water thereinto, the vessel having a hole positioned therein proximate to a bottom thereof, the vessel being continuous between the open top and the bottom but for the hole; a pipe engaged to the vessel and extending bilaterally from the hole, wherein the pipe is configured for draining water from the vessel, the pipe comprising: a first section positioned externally to the vessel and extending therefrom such that the first section is substantially parallel to the bottom, a second section extending into the vessel such that the second section is substantially parallel to the bottom, the second section being selectively threadedly couplable to the first section, and a third section extending substantially perpendicularly from the second section distal from the first section and toward the bottom, a free end of the third section being open, spaced above, and parallel to the bottom, wherein the pipe is configured for siphoning of the water positioned in the vessel below a lower limit of the second section; a grommet engaged to the vessel and positioned in the hole, such that the grommet is positioned for sealably engaging the pipe to the vessel, the grommet comprising rubber, silicone, or elastomer; a valve positioned in the pipe, the valve being positioned is the first section of the pipe; and an actuator operationally engaged to the valve and being positioned externally to the pipe and the vessel, such that the actuator is positioned for selectively actuating the valve for draining of the water from the vessel, the actuator comprising a handle, a button, or a lever, the button being depressible, wherein the handle, the button, and the lever are configured for turning, depressing, and levering, respectively, for actuating the valve. 